Buffalo, NY (WKBW) – A New York state security guard has been lauded for his heroic action in a confrontation with a man armed with an AR-15 captured on video.
The doors of Hispanic United 0f Buffalo reopened after security guard Raynald Beckford took action to stop a man armed with an AR-15.
“When I turned around, I saw . “At that moment, I saw the man and he couldn’t believe what was going on.”
Beckford, who has been in the security industry for more than 20 years, said he went into survival mode when he had a close encounter with a shooter.
I had a rifle with him. I was saying, ‘Yes, yes, yes,'” he said. “Then he turned back and stopped fighting for a while. Then another guard started going down the stairs.”
Beckford said everyone had to fight because the shooter wouldn’t take his finger off the trigger.
The video captured the moment security guards tackled the suspect and took his gun.
“I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t scared for my life,” Beckford said.
Beckford said he didn’t want to label himself a hero. Instead, he said he was just a guy doing his job.
“That’s my job. To save and protect. That’s exactly what I did,” he said.
Attorney John Flynn said the suspect, 48-year-old Jeremy Griffin, is currently facing a number of charges.
“Two security guards and two civilians were nothing short of heroic,” he said. “They weren’t concerned about their own safety. They were concerned about the safety of those around them.”
Beckford said he would consider treatment after the incident, but he is happy that everything went well.
“No one was killed or injured. Glory to God,” said Beckford.
The clinic said it was considering increasing security.
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